Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter Hosts Super Producer Panel

On Saturday, September 8, the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter, in association with the Producers & Engineers Wing, held Grammy GPS: A Road Map For Today's Music Pro at the W Hotel in the Buckhead district of Atlanta. Nearly 300 musicians, students, producers, engineers and other music industry professionals assembled to attend multiple educational sessions covering topics such as basic entertainment law and vocal health, as well as, for students, an introduction to Grammy U, internships, networking, and more.

The group offered opinions on topics including what defines a producer, how the industry has changed and how they are adapting, different aspects of the production process (including business, sonic, artistic and aesthetic considerations) and the increasingly important relationship between those who make records and their fans. In a final summary of what it takes to succeed today, Walker offered, "You've just got to work harder to put more 'good' on your album."

The day ended with a presentation of Here There & Everywhere: My Life Recording The Music of The Beatles written by engineer Geoff Emerick (whose credits include The Beatles' Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour and Abbey Road, along with work for other key artists) and author Howard Massey. The duo took a delighted and appreciative audience on an audiovisual journey behind the scenes into the creative and technical processes used by Emerick that led to some of the greatest music of the last 40 years.

"We had an amazing assemblage of talent here today in Atlanta," says P&E Wing Senior Executive Director Maureen Droney. "The producers and engineers who participated all showed the passion for their work that was the uniting theme of the entire day. They all recognize the realities of our changing industry and continue to seek to elevate their profession."